Senior Murray Ellington has been named Noon Optimist Student of the Month for November.
A day student who has been enrolled at Darlington since sixth grade, Ellington has taken 18 Honors and AP classes and was inducted into National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, and Quill & Scroll Honor Society. He is head day prefect in Moser House; managing editor of the Jabberwokk yearbook; a Student Council class representative; and a member of Y-Cabinet, Spanish Club, and the Advancement Ambassadors.
As a member of the Senior Ventures program, his project focuses on sharing sports information with the school community by running the @darlingtonathletics Instagram account.
A four-year captain of the varsity tennis team, Ellington helped lead the team to two GHSA state finals and one state championship. He also competes in USTA and UTR tournaments around the country.
"Murray is an exemplary student who gives his all — academically, athletically and personally — because he simply does not do anything halfway," said Upper School Librarian Jordan West, Ellington's college advisor and Senior Ventures instructor. "He pushes himself to be better, and in doing so, inspires others around him to match his level of effort. Murray also has one of the most impressive work ethics I have observed in a student; he does not stop working until he is proud. He is a strong leader in the Darlington Community who leads with his heart, and it is his compassion coupled with his competence that truly distinguishes him."
Outside of school, Ellington has worked as an intern at McRae, Smith, Peek Law Firm and Cracked Media Ventures as well as a tennis instructor, giving private lessons to children 10 and under during the summer. He enjoys volunteering in the community at organizations such as Restoration Rome, Northwest Georgia Hunger Ministries, the Rome Community Kitchen and others. He is also an active member of First Baptist Church of Rome's youth group.
The son of Ashley Ellington of Rome and Dr. Kent Ellington of Rome, Murray will be honored at an Optimist Club luncheon on Nov. 11.
